A church will be built on the former Watford Springs site after being granted planning permission tonight.

Watford Community Church applied to build a two and a half storey building, comprising a community church, auditorium, cafe, training and children's facilities, with six parking spaces on the dilapidated site in Lower High Street.

Watford Borough Council's development control committee approved the plan, but voted for three additional conditions, and a change of operating hours, to protect the quality of life for residents in Dyson Court, an adjacent sheltered housing scheme.

Access to the centre's six parking spaces will be via the existing entrance that leads into a cul-de-sac with Dyson Court at the end.

In summary, Development Manager David Noble described the application as "the second piece of a jigsaw that makes up the Watford Springs Planning Brief". Permission has already been granted for 129 homes to be built on the site by Taylor Wimpey.

Speaking against the plan, John Dowdle, from the Watford Area Humanist Group, observed that Mr Noble's introduction didn't mention the word 'church'.

He said: "Here we've got a situation where what is proposed is provision for 500 people to be seated and six parking spaces. You work it out. This is a recipe for gridlock.

"This particular development doesn't seem like a simple community centre for the local community. There's seating for 500 people - that's more than the number of people who live in Watford Fields."

Central Ward Councillor Chris Leslie also spoke against the application. He told the committee: "It's a good idea but in the wrong place so please consider carefully environmental damage, no parking, taxis going to drop off people and cannot turn around, and noise."

Alan Palmer, a "long standing member of Watford Community Church", spoke in favour of the plan, which will be completed in two phases.

He said: "We look forward to being good neighbours to the Watford Fields area because we are a community church in nature, not just in name.

"We as a church aspire to excellence. Once the building is completed, our aim is provide excellence in all activities running in the building. We are really confident our journey has transparent, we have a design of high quality and we will achieve excellence in every aspect of the project."

As members of the committee discussed the application, their comments focused on concerns over access to the site, via the existing entrance to Dyson Court.

Councillor Rabi Martins feared approval of the plan would be to the detriment of residents.

He said: "It's great to see this derelict site being brought back into use. We're getting a community building, but at what price?

"The access is not acceptable, it's to the detriment of the environment, and damaging to residents."

Councillor George Derbyshire agreed. He said: "This all stands and falls on plans to arrange and manage potential car parking problems and to make sure it doesn't become a problem.

"Are we prepared to agree this proposal, knowing on Sundays it is going to attract hundreds and hundreds of people, many of whom will attempt to come by car."

In contrast, Councillor Ellie Burtenshaw said: "I actually like the design of the building and think it's good for the area. If we can get measures in for added protection, it will be a facility that people of Dyson Court will actually use themselves. I welcome it."

Councillor Steve Rackett said: "Given the concerns of residents in Dyson Court, I cannot support it unless we have a Green Travel Plan." He also suggested the hours of operation be reduced from 7am-11pm to 8am-10.30pm.

Councillor Martins added: "This building is more than a church and community centre. To think in terms of use only on a Sunday, that is wrong. It's going to be in use seven days a week."

Councillor Martin's motion to defer the plan was rejected 7-1. Councillor Rackett's motion to establish a Green Travel Plan was rejected 5-4.

The plan was approved by a vote of 7-2, with three additional conditions that stated there must be a physical barrier to prevent creation of a through road into the Taylor Wimpey housing development; a physical barrier to prevent cars parking on land to be developed in Phase Two; and a barrier to limit access into the cul-de-sac. Hours of operation were changed to 7.30am-11pm.

Councillors Martins and Rackett voted against the application.

Watford Community Church was granted a 125-year lease of the land owned by Watford Borough Council last year.